I have my Brother Simplicity 3129 still unopened and the shop sells Viking machines. The Eden Rose is twice as much and maybe not gaining all that much in features other than it's a pretty machine.

I haven't found a lot on the SB 3129 but the reviews I have seen are good. Is it worth asking if I could upgrade? I haven't seen many comments on the Eden Rose 250C so maybe it isn't worth twice as much.

I'm pretty sure the Eden Rose 250C is the same as the Tribute 140C and Sapphire 855, which it replaced. The machine itself has been around for several years and updated with new colors and names with Eden Rose being the latest. -- Edited on 1/5/14 6:57 PM --

Since your shop sells Viking machines...is there an Eden Rose 250C to test sew on...try out its features and see what accessories come with it? Additional accessories such as extra feet can add to its value. From what I've seen actual Viking feet cost more than Brother feet.

If your shop doesn't have an Eden Rose 250C to test sew...is there a Joann Fabrics with a Viking center near you? I was at one that did have the Eden Rose 250C and the woman there was actually anxious for me to test sew on it...but I choose to test sew on the Emerald 116.

The You Tube video of the SB3129 was helpful. It does have a lot of accessories so I think it is a good value and positive comments on the machine. It lists the work space as 4.1 x 7.4 - is that the Harp space? I will mostly be doing craft type sewing although I would like to make valences for a window. Not sure that I would ever do a big quilt but appliquing and maybe small quilt projects. If I did a bigger quiliting project it wouldn't be a routine thing - at least not currently in my plans but who knows.

Eventually I would like to get an embroidery machine and that could be a machine upgrade that does both or just embroidery.

From what I can tell, the Eden Rose has fewer accessories but has some added features - maybe not that many and not sure how critical these are or maybe more just nice to have things. It has the Sewing Advisor and Sensor Sewing. Adding the accessories could add quite a bit to that sale price.

I will call the shop today and talk to them but appreciate any more feedback on the Eden Rose.

Puglover52, I would keep the Brother. According to my dealer, Singer bought out Viking and Pfaff about 3 years ago. All Singers, Vikings and Pfaffs are now made in China. They kept it hush-hush for awhile to see what would happen. What happened is they had so many machines, still new, come back with so many problems that they stopped carrying both Viking and Pfaff. This is what I was told so please don't shoot the messenger!

Right now I have a Brother Simplicity SB4138 on order. It has everything including an extension table, knee lift, 3 alphas with lower case, and even sews sideways for patches, labels and applique. When it arrives I am trading in my Brother Innov-is 80 that I have loved and had no problems with for 5 years. It will help off-set the cost of the new one, and I don't need two computerized Brothers as I have a Bernina mechanical I pull out for heavier projects. I just want an upgrade and I love the quiet smooth performance of my Brother! (Plus DH gave me gift cards to the sm dealer for Christmas. What a good Santa!)

I did have a Viking, one of the first computerized ones, that lasted 17 years. It was a nice heavier machine and made in Sweden. But I would not buy a Viking these days.

It has been more than three years. There were some problems. I believe them to be ironed out for the most part, and to have been no more problematic than other brand problems we have long threads on here, such as some Bernina models. Other manufactureers have worked on solving problems and so have Pfaff and Viking. Most machines ARE made in China these days - certainly the Brother's are and the Babylocks as well, and many Berninas. So it is always good to remember what your dealers main purpose is, and that is to sell what he sells. Not that you won't believe what he/she says, just do some research and take it with a few hundred grains of salt!

That said, I like the newer new Vikings but don't care for some of the things on them, like the fact that tension is in the menu, and I don't care for the lack of the foot lift lever, but those are things we get used to.

SewLibra - I appreciate your post. The 4138 looks nice. I called the shop and the owner was very nice. She is open to me trying out another machine and upgrading if I want. At the same time she didn't seem to think I would gain that much with the Eden Rose other than a larger harp space if I was going to do quilting - which I'm not. I appreciated that she wasn't just out to sell a more expensive machine. When do you get the 4138? I'm feeling better about the Simplicity. Maybe it's just because these don't seem very popular that I was nervous so knowing someone that is more knowledgable on machines that bought one is very helpful.

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